Navigation
When you first open your project you will notice a menu on the left:
This menu will help you navigate your project. From adding new collaborators under the Team option to accessing the Beat Sheet, Catalog, etc. If you would like to open the Breakdown this will be on the right menu of the script instead.
If you were a previous user of the script editor you may have added some extra scripts or files under the older Additional File option. You can still find these files, under File & Media option at the bottom and then clicking on File.
FormattingThe TAB key will switch the element setting of your current line. In a stageplay, each line of text can be classified as one type of element. Those elements all have a distinct placement, letter case, and margins. When you are writing, our system will try to intelligently guess at what you're going to write next. So if you're writing a character name, and hit ENTER, the system will automatically switch to a dialog element. You can also use the Element Selection menu to change your current element type. Below is an example of what the various elements look like. |
You can also use the Element Selection menu to change your current element type. Below is an example of what the various elements look like:
The Toolbar
The Toolbar includes the most common formatting options for your script's text.
Bold/Italics/Underline
You can highlight any text and add these styles for emphasis.
Dual Dialogue
When two characters are speaking simultaneously our system will place the text side by side. Type the text as normal, then highlight both sets and hit this icon to display the text side by side.
Undo/Redo
On the Right, you'll see these buttons. They will allow you to undo and redo recent changes to your text.
The File Menu
The first menu in the top toolbar contains common actions which you can do with the script, whether starting out or submitting.
Import Script
This menu item will allow you to import and append text from other documents on your computer. It accepts .pdf, .doc, .docx, .rtf, .txt, .fdx, .html, .cxscript and .celtx files
Export to Script
These options allow you to export your entire script content to a .txt or .fountain file for use in other programs.
Create Link
This option will generate a public, read-only link that you can share with other people via email or social media. Anyone with the shareable link will have access to read and print your script in its most recent version.
Create Sides
This will activate the sides wizard, which will walk you through creating sides from select scenes from your script.
History
This selection will allow you to view and optionally restore your script to previous versions (part of a paid subscription)
Read more about Script History
Print / Download
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This will open the print preview menu, where you can add watermarks to your pages and choose whether you want to include the Title Page and Character List in your printout. This is where you'll also find the option to print your script in either International, or American Stageplay format. |
This will open the print preview menu, where you can add watermarks to your pages and choose what content you want included in your printout.
The Edit Menu
The Edit Menu choices will allow you to change large selection of how the scripts look
Title Page
This option opens the title page wizard, which allows you to enter your title page info and generate a standard title page for your script.
You can include the title page when you print your script.
Character List
| This option allows you to customize which characters identified within your script appear on your Character Page for printing or downloading, as well as assign Cast Members to your characters. |
Undo/Redo
Also located on the toolbar, these options will allow you to undo and redo recent changes to your text.
Format
The Format sub-menu options: Bold, Italics, Underline, Dual-Dialog, Dual dialogue. Please note the shortcuts, which help keep your hands on the keyboard.
Cut, Copy & Paste
These options allow users to move selections of text to a different location in the script, or to a new script all together.
Find/Replace
Choosing this option will open up the find/replace toolbar, allowing you to search the text of your script for words or phrases, and replace them. You can use Ctrl+F as well.
Check Spelling
This will start our built-in spellchecker. It will go line by line, highlight issues, and make suggestions to fix spelling issues in your script.
Headers and Footers
This opens the Headers and Footers settings for your script. By default, basic users will see the text "Created Using Celtx" in their footer.
The feature allows you to add/remove/edit custom text, page numbers, the current date, and more to the top and bottom of the page.
Script Settings
The script settings window allows you to customize the page numbers, paper size, and other page settings.
The View Menu
The View menu has options for how the editor itself, looks, as well as client approval options.
Show/Hide Readthrough
This option will toggle the Readthrough option visibility on the Right hand Sidebar, and is available for main project scripts.
Comments
File-specific comments added by yourself and collaborators will be displayed via this menu item.
Zoom
Set your editor's zoom level. Zoom level can also be set via the toolbar.
Fullscreen
This will turn fullscreen mode on and off.
ESC will also turn off fullscreen mode.
Pin Toolbar (fullscreen mode only)
This keeps your toolbar visible at the top of the fullscreen editor.
Night Mode (fullscreen mode only)
This will darken your editor, and invert the text/background colors to ease eye strain.
Color
You can customize the text and page color of your script. The top color is the text color, and is black by default. The bottom one is the page color, and is white by default.
Note: This is meant as a viewing option, and will not be included in your printed/pdf scripts.
Insights
Open the Insights section to set writing goals, track your progress and writing habits, and visually analyze the content of your story.
The Help Menu
You might have guessed it, at some point you may refer to our outside resources to get past a hurdle. We'll be here!
Tour
Each project file will have a Tour button available. These guided demos will help get you started, and serve as a quick refresher, if needed.
Help Center
Choose this option to load the Help Center in a new browser tab.
Blog
Here's the link to blog site. Our writers keep this up to date with all things Celtx.
Live Support
If you're subscribed to a plan which includes Live support, choosing this option will surface the chat window itself.
The Righthand Sidebar
The righthand sidebar contains several sections to access additional Celtx tools. Each tool can be opened by clicking on the menu item, and closed by hitting the that appears in the toolbar.
The Scene Navigator
Each time you add a scene heading to your script, it is added to the scene navigator.
It will highlight the scene you are working on in green.
You can click on any scene heading in the navigator to scroll directly to that scene.
You can reorder scenes in your script by dragging and dropping these sidebar items.
If you want to pin this navigator open to the left side of your screen, hit the icon.
Title Page
This option takes you into the Title Page editor. In this editor you can choose the style of title page you would like and the details that you would like to add.
Comments
This allows you to collaborate with your colleagues and add script-anchored feedback to your script.
You can also @mention other users shared on your projects.
Media
This allows you to add images to your project and associate it directly with the text of your script.
Breakdown
This allows you to begin breaking down your script by tagging elements such as props, wardrobe, VFX and more directly in your script text.
Read Through
This sidebar lets you hear your story play out from any line at any time with fully customizable text-to-speech playback.
*NOTE* If you don't see Read Through, you may need to toggle this feature on from the Options Menu.
The Footer
The footer of your editor includes:
Insights timers and tools
The insights timers on the bottom left will tell you how long you've been typing in this session, and how long you've had your script open but inactive.
Clicking on the Insights link will give you a stats window where you can set goals, track your progress, and more.
Word/Page count, Last saved and shortcut keys
At the bottom right of your page is a running page and word count, as well as the when the last save of your script happened.
Collaboration
Finally, when more than one user has the document open at once, the header will display their avatars in the upper right of your screen to let you know.
Please note, this is only available for paid subscriptions.
Learn more about Collaboration